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30th October 2024
03:40pm GMT
England prop Joe Marler has been criticised after posting that the haka "needs binning" and labelling the Māori ceremonial dance as "ridiculous" ahead of Saturday's Autumn Nations Series match against the All Blacks in London.
The injured loosehead prop claimed in a post on X that the pre-match ritual should be scrapped, adding:
"It’s only any good when teams actually front it with some sort of reply. Like the league boys did last week."
The Haka needs binning. It’s ridiculous.
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) October 29, 2024
The comments led to immediate backlash on social media, with one person replying: "Who are you to speak on someone else’s culture?"
Another wrote: "As a professional rugby player, it must be a momentous occasion to be able to stand in front of one of the greatest rugby playing nations in the world, and witness this tradition first hand."
Subsequently, Marler deactivated his account, before reactivating it hours later.
Once back on the app, the 34-year-old wrote: "Context is everything. Just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture. Some wild responses. Big Love."
Context is everything. Just having a bit of fun trying to spark interest in a mega rugby fixture. Some wild responses. 🎣 Big Love x
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) October 30, 2024
Shortly after, he added: "Also needed to satisfy my narcissism."
Marler won't feature in Saturday's game after breaking his foot during the first Test between England and New Zealand in July.
His comments come five years after England were fined £2,000 for crossing the halfway line as they lined up in a V formation to face the haka before their Rugby World Cup semi-final match against New Zealand.
While many were critical of the insensitive nature of Marler's post, others believed he made a good point.
One X user wrote: "Don't agree with Joe Marler that the Haka should be binned. But let's bin the 20-metre rule."
Another added: "Good logic here from Joe Marler. The haka is bad but it’s bad because opposition players (him) don’t respond to it properly."
Marler’s comments provoked a backlash in New Zealand, including from David Seymour, leader of the political party ACT which is part of the coalition government.
"I love the haka. It wouldn’t be the All Blacks if they didn’t do the haka," Seymour told reporters outside Parliament.
"Who is this Joe Marler guy? I’ve never heard of him. An English prop? Well in my experience there are very few props with high IQ. It could be something in that area."
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